Method of and machine for producing knitted fabrics



Oct. 7, 1941. HOLMES ETAL 2,258,569

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRICS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

JW Ja /flaw, 'ZMMM Oct. 7, 1941. H. H. HOLMES ETAL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRICS Original Filed 'Dec. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m N NE JMJW Oct. 7, 1941. H. H. HOLMES ETIAL 2,258,569

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRICS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3.

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRODUC- ING KNITTED FABRICS Henry Harold Holmes and John Cyril Herbert Kurd, Leicester, England, asslgnors to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a

British company Original application December 14, 1939, Serial No. 309,282. Divided and this application May 28,

1940, Serial No. 337,726.

December 20, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention concerns subject-matter divided out from our co-pending United States application Serial No. 309,282, filed Decembe 14, 1939, and relates to a-method of and machine for producing the improved knitted fabric disclosed in said application. 7

The fabric constituting the subject-matter of our co-pending application is characterised in that it has pattern effects which are produced by purl stitch effects and embroidery plating, such, for example, as lap or wrap striping effects. V

Conveniently the fabric may be produced on any knitting machine of the type adapted to produce knitted fabric with purl effects.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of so much of a circular knitting machine of the superimposed needle cylinder type as is necessary to show the combination, in such a machine, of means for enabling fabric of the patterned or fancy character described in our co-pending application aforesaid to be produced thereon,

Figure 2 is a developed schematic lay-out of a portion of the cam system of said machine-at two feeds-401 the purpose of showing means including needle transfer cams for effecting selecw tive transference of needles from one needle cylinder to the other,

Figures 3-5 are enlarged detail views illustrating a portion both of a plain needle and of an In Great Britain (on. er -13s) associated lap or wrap thread guide at respectively different stages during the production of a lap or wrap striping effect, and

Figure 6 is a somewhat similar view but shows a purl loop in the course of being drawn by a rib needle over a knocking-over bit or sinker of a form hereinafter to be described.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Broadly considered the method" of making the fabric concerned on a knitting machine of the type adapted to produce purl stitches in knitted fabric which consists of supplying a main yarn or yarns to the needles of the machine, causing desired needles to, produce purl stitches, supplying-lap or wrap striping or embroidery yarn or thread to desired needles and causing said needle: to knit the lap or wrap striping or embroidery yarn or thread in addition to or instead of the main yarn or yarns, with or without operation of the needles to knit a rib course or courses, with or without operation of the needles in suchwise as to form welts, and with or without operation of certain needles to produce separating or parting courses or incorporation of a draw thread into the knitted fabric.

Although the fabric may be produced on either a flat or a circular links and links knitting machine furnished with means of any character suitable for the intended purposes, a multi-feeder so-called body machine of the superimposed rotary needle'cylinder type embodying mechanism for selectively transferring needles from either cylinder to the other and equipped with lap or wrap striping or embroidery mechanism will 'now be described with-reference to Figures 1 and 2.

This machine comprises axially opposed rotary needles I4 and associated needle operating sliders.

I! and I5 The plain or bottom cylinder I2 is attached by screws IE to an inner cylindrical sleeve ll to the lower end of which issecured a bevel wheel It. This wheel is adapted to mesh with a bevel pinion (not shown) on a continuously rotating, e. g. main, shaft of the machine whereby the cylinder I2 is driven. The rib or top cylinder I3 is driven by gearing from the cylinder |2. Conveniently for this purpose a spur gear wheel I! secured to the upper end of the cylinder l3, for instance by means of an annular securing member or ring 20 and screws such as 2|, is arranged to mesh with a pinion 22 which is keyed to a shaft 23 disposed parallel with the axis a of the opposed cylinders. The shaft 22 is rotated from a spur gear wheel 24 which is keyed to the sleeve l1 and adapted to mesh with another pinion 25 secured to the lower end of said shaft. Since the gear wheels I! and 24 are of the same diameter and the pinions 22 and 25 are likewise of the same size it will therefore be appreelated that the opposed cylinders rotate together at the same speed. The cam box of the plain or bottom cylinder I2 is indicated at 26 and mounted on brackets or like supports such as 21 which are in turn fastened on a bed plate 28. On the other hand the cam box 29 of the rib component is attached to or suspended from a supporting or top plate by means of somewhat simi lar brackets or supports such as that indicated at ill. Alternatively, however, the cam boxes 2 and 29 may be attached directly to the aforesaid bedplate and supporting or top plates respectively.

Now, by appropriate prearranged or selective transfer of needles ll from one needle cylinder to the other certain needles can be caused'to produce purl stitches while others, knit plain transfer cams 3| (Figure 2)one at each feedand, in association with the sliders I! in the plain or bottom cylinder l2, selective needle transfer mechanism, preferably of the particular character hereinafter to be described. The transfer cams 3|, which, when operative act upon the transfer butts 32 of thetop sliders I5 are of the bolt type being movable radially in the top cam box 29 and spring controlled. Means of any suitable conventional character may be provided for operating said cams automatically suchwise as to eiiect at a desired feed or feeds transference of prearranged needles H in the'rib or top cylinder l3 to the opposed cylinder I! at appropriate times in the manner well understood in the art. With regard to the aforesaid selective needle transfer mechanism this may either be employed to eifect complete transference of selected needles from the plain or bottom cylinder I! to the rib or top cylinder l3, or, as shown, said mechanism may be used simply to initiate such transference, the action in thi instance being completed at a desired feed or at each of two or more feeds by a corresponding fixed transfer cam 33. Considered generally the selective needle transfer mechanism is of the character described in prior United States Patent No. 2,143,832.

Thus, as will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, said mechanism includes selecting elements such as 34 each of which is provided with a frontal selectlng butt 35 and a rearwardly projecting formation 36 remote from its upper end. There is 'one element 34 in association with each needlewith the front edge of the extension. It is convenient to mention here that one complete slider l5 and companion selecting element 34, have been shown at the left-hand side of Figure 2, and that although these parts ought properly to be shown edgewise they are nevertheless shown in side elevation for convenience in illustration. The same applies to the needles I4 and portions of associated instrumentalities shown near the right-hand side of Figure 2. When in normal position, the selecting elements 34 are prevented from falling out of the grooves or tricks 39 by a sectional carrier ring 40 and a sectional ring 4| which latter is attached by screws such as 42 (see Figure 1) to the inside of the bottom cam box 26. The ring 43 is attached by screws 43 to the inside of a cylindrical carrier 44 which is in turn secured to any appropriate fixed part of the machine. Each of the elements 34, besides being provided with a tail portion 45 which normally rests against the inner edge of the ring 43, is formed at its upper end with a reduced portion 46 the front edge of which rests at all times against the inner surface of the ring 4| while the adjacent shouldered portion 41 of the element permanently -engages beneath the lower edge of said last mentioned ring. For selectively operating the selecting elements 34 there is provided at each feed of the machine a bank of as many spring-controlled selector cams '43 as there are butt positions on the elements,

.50 or, alternatively, with screws or selector strips,

prearranged and removable and interchangeable according to patterning requirements. Conveniently the unit 43 at each feed is mounted on a spindle and operated by cam operated pawl and ratchet mechanism in accordance with now well known practice. Instead of employing units such as 43 these may, of course, be replaced by jacquard or equivalent mechanisms of any known form. In any event the selecting means are adapted to operate selectively upon the butts 35 for the purpose of determining which of the corresponding sliders |5 shall be subsequently raised by associated actuating means for transfer purposes. Conveniently the actuating means at each feed consist of an upthrow or raising cam 5| which is formed or provided on the carrier ring 40 and shaped as shown in Figure 2. The selecting elements 34 and the actuating cams 5| are formed and arranged so that all of said elements make contact with the cams but only those which are selected, 1. e. engaged by an operative selector cam 48 and pressed inwards to bring their rear formations 36 beneath the associated jack-like extensions 38, function to operate corresponding needles I4, while the remainder are merely moved idly by the cams 5| so that they do not affect the associated sliders and needles. The portion of each selecting element adapted to be acted upon by an actuating cam 5| is designated by the reference numeral 52, this portion being in the form of a frontal butt or shoulder and formed at its lower edge with a notch or recess 53 the purpose of which is to prevent the element-in the event of it being unselected at a selecting point S (Figure 2--from accidentally moving into operative position. The arrangement is therefore such that immediately an unselected element 34 commences to travel over an actuating cam 5| the upper edge of the latter enters the notch or recess 53 and thereby holds the element in its normal inoperative position while it is being raised. 0n

the other hand whenever a selected element 34 commences to travel over an actuating cam 5| its rear formation 33 is brought into engagement with the lower extremity of the adjacent jacklike extension 38 with the result that the corresponding slider I5 is raised and transference from the cylinder I! to the cylinder l3 of a needle engaged with said slider is thereby initiated.

Cam means are provided for action upon elements 34 selected at any of the points S to restore same to normal position preparatory to re-selection being effected at a subsequent selecting point. In the example illustrated the said means include downwardly inclined cam surfaces 54 one of which is located above each actuating cam 5|. Each surface 54 by reason of the engagement therewith of the shouldered portions 41 of the elements 34 serves to return all of the latter to the normal level after they have been fully raised by the corresponding actuating cam 5|. Moreover, a cam (not shown) located behind the elements 34 at or adjacent to their tail ends is provided at each feed for pushing previously selected elements outwards preparatory to reselection. The aforesaid cam surfaces 54 are formed on sections of the ring 4| and the latter is cut away as at 55 to permit the selecting elements to rise as the portions 52 ride up the cams 5|. All the elements 34, after passing a cam 5|, are held in the normal inoperative position shown in Figure 1 until they again approach a selecting point S. Conveniently for this purpose there is provided between feeds an annular recess or track 56 forreception of the tail portions 45 of the elements.

Means may be provided for automatically nullifying selective action by the pattern controlling unit 49 at any one or at each of desired feeds for predetermined intervals according to patterning requirements. Conveniently for this purpose there is provided at the feed or at each feed at which selective action is to be nullified at appropriate times a cam which is located between the selecting point S at that feed and the corresponding actuating cam 5| behind the selecting elements 34 at or adjacent to their tail ends, said cam being normally inoperative but adapted to be rendered operative for predetermined intervals for causing all selected elements to be pushed outwards again so that they are all moved idly by said actuating cam. For purpose of illustration on such nullifying cam is provided at the position designated by the reference numeral 51. Said cam may be of the radially movable bolt type and automatically operable in conventional manner. A similar cam may, if desired, also be provided in advance of that cam 5| shown at the right-hand side of Figure 2. If the machine has more than two feeds then 'a controlling unit and actuating and transfer cams, with or without an associated nullifying cam, may be provided at each feed or at only certain of said feeds according to requirements. At, this stage in the description it is convenient to mention that in the case of a multi-feeder machine selective needle transfer mechanism may, in some instances, be provided at one feed only. Moreover, although the particular example herein described is applied to a multi-feeder machine, it is nevertheless within the scope of the invention to apply the mechanisms herein described to a single feeder machine. However, returning to the description, transfer, butts 58 are provided on the sliders l5 and it is these butts which are acted upon by the fixed transfer cams 33. As will be understood, the function of selected elements 34 is to raise the corresponding sliders ii to an extent sufficient to bring their butts 58 into the range of the appropriate cam 33 by means of which latter transference of desired needles is completed.

In Figure 2 the customary knitting cams of the plain and rib cam systems are shown. Thus, at each feed, the bottom stitch cam is shown at 59, the associated clearing cam at 60, the top stitch cam at 6| and the top clearing cam at 62.

The mechanism for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other may, instead of being of the specific form herein described, be of the general character described in prior United Kingdom specification No. 391,212.

In pursuance of the invention the illustrated machine is alsoequipped with lap or wrap striping or embroidery mechanism of the general character described in United States Patent No. 2,065,469. This mechanism is associated with the rib or top cylinder component for co-operation with needles in the plain or bottom cylinder l2 and is used for lapping or wrapping embroidery threads 3 around associated needles in desired courses. Broadly considered said mechanism comprises any suitable number of individually operable thread guides like that indicated at 64 in Figure 1-say one for each needle or a plurality of needles, means hereinafter to be described for selectively operating the guides and means for operating the needles so that selected threads 3 are lapped or wrapped around corresponding needles, whereby when said needles are caused to knit, embroidery stitches are produced by said needles in addition to stitches formed of the main yarn or yarns ordinarily supplied.

Each of the thread guides has a thread holding extremity 65 constituted by a downwardly directed extension located at the free end of a portion 66 formed at right angles to the main body portion of the guide. This extremity or the portion 66 is laterally bent or cranked. As shown more clearly in each of Figures 2-6, two thread receiving holes 61 are provided in the extremity 65. In addition the guide is fulcrumed at 68 and has a frontal butt 68 on the opposite side of the fulcrum to the thread guiding extremity 65, and a main butt 10. For the sake of convenience in this description the butt 69 will be referred to as a pressure butt. The guides are provided in a longitudinally tricked cylindrical carrier II which is mounted on a sleeve 12 depending from the top plate 13 of the machine. As will be seen, therefore, the carrier II is above and concentrically disposed with respect to the plain or bottom cylinder l2. Conveniently the top plate 13, which serves to support the entire rib component and the associated lap or wrap striping mechanism, is formed with a central recess 14 having a hole 15 formed concentrically therein, the diameter of the'said hole being substantially the is fitted into the hole so as to extend axially from the plate 13 with the flange It in the recess, the two parts being secured together by means of screws such as IT passed through the flange into the part of the top plate forming the bottom of the recess 14. The cylindrical carrier II is supported at its lower end upon a flanged annular part 18 which is secured to the corresponding end of the depending sleeve 12. At its upper end th said carrier has keyed thereto a gear wheel I9 arranged to mesh with a pinion 80 on the aforesaid shaft 23. In this way the carrier containing the thread guides 64 is driven at the same speed as the needle cylinders. The thread guiding extremities of the guides project radially from the carrier 'II- at the lower end thereof. A

bank of selector levers or cams 8! is provided for action selectively upon the pressure butts 69, above the fulcrum points 68, so that selected guides 64 are pressed inwards at their upper ends and are projected radially at their lower ends. A track or like cam 82 is provided for action on the main butts III of the guides seriatim, the formation of the track being such that the guides are slightly lowered and then raised. As the result of being lowered in this way. a guide is moved slightly towards the associated needle to be lapped or wrapped, for the purpose of facilitating the lapping or wrapping action. The guides are re-positioned in a longitudinal direction before re-selection. The reason that each guide is laterally bent or cranked as hereinbefore mentioned is so'that said guide shall be deflected laterally as the result of contact with the adjacent needle during the radial movement. Each thread guide has an upwardly extending butt 83 at the upper end, and a retracting cam 84 is proyided for action upon these butts seriatim for" mal wrapping position. To lower a needle to this position the knitting butt 85 of the corresponding slider I5 is engaged with and depressed by a cam 88 which is disposed in advance -of and adjacent to a bottom stitch cam 59. A

needle in the normal wrapping position is shown in each of Figures 6 and "I. Figure 3 shows the relative positions of a guide and its associated needle I4 immediately before said guide is projected by the appropriate one of the selector levers or cams 8|. The relative positions after the guide has been projected are represented in Figure 2. At this stage the thread 3 to be lapped or wrapped passes on one side only of the needle II. The guide is subsequently retracted by the cam 84 taking its thread 3 with it, and during this movement the laterally bent or cranked extremity 2 of said guide engages the side of the needle whereupon the guide (and maybe also the needle) yields or is deflected laterally. After passing the needle on the return movement, the

thread guiding extremity 65 springs back to its normal position with the result that the thread 3 is lappedor wrapped around the said needle, as shown in Figure 4, and is formed into a stitch 81 when the needle next knits by reason of the knitting butt 85 of the corresponding slider I5 being engaged by a stitch cam 59. In Figure 5 the needle is shown in the course of simultaneously drawing two stitches, viz. a plain stitch of the main yarn and an embroidery stitch 81.

The selecting levers or cams 8| are operated selectively by means of a drum or equivalent unit such as 88 having pins or pegs 89 prearranged therein according to pattern requirements and racked around, say by cam actuated pawl and ratchet mechanism (not shown).

The threads 3 are supplied to the thread guides 64 from a number of bobbins 90 or the equivalent carried by a structure 9| arranged co-axially with the cylindrical carrier II. The bobbins are arranged in tiers about a vertical rod 92 which is mounted in a bearing 93 formed on a horizonchine for efiecting shogging movement of the lap or wrap thread supplying means and the appropriate. needle bed one in relation to the other, i. e. varying the relative positions of the thread supplying means or guides and the associated needles laterally so that diflerent threads may be supplied to the same needles in order to produce contrasting, e. g. different coloured effects in the same needle wales. For instance, in the particular knitting machine illustrated this result may be achieved by shogging the thread guides 84 circumferentially over one or more needles in the plain or bottom cylinder I 2. The shogging movement may be effected by any convenient means, such for example as of a character similar to those disclosed in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 2,065,469.

In the specific machine illustrated a circular series of upper knocking-over bits or sinkers such as'I09 is provided in association with the needles to facilitate production of purl stitches.

These bits or sinkers are vertically and movably association with each feed a raising cam II2 for tal supporting member 94. The said rod, moreover, is supported by a collar 95 which is secured thereto and rests on the top of the bearing 93. The bobbins of each tier are placed on spindles '96 carried by a circular support 91 having radial arms 98 formed integrally with an inner circular part 99 which is associated with a hub I00 rigidly secured on the rod 92. To the top of each inner circular part 99 is attached a ring I 0| having formed therein perforations through which the threads 3 pass and are led to the guides 84 through any suitable guiding means arranged within the sleeve 12. Conveniently these means comprise an appropriately perforated disc I92 having a central hub which fits on and is secured to the rod 92, below the bearing 93, and also a similarly perforated dished member I93. The member I03 is carried by a supporting circular part I04 also secured to the said rod. The supporting member 94 is attached by screws I05 to a gear I06 which is located in the recess I4 in the top plate 13 and arranged to mesh with a pinion I01 keyed on the top of the shaft 23. A

action on the butts I I I to move the bits or sinkers to a height a: at which they are clear of the thread guides, a cam H3 at the knitting point to lower said bits or sinkers so that they are in a position :11 to enable purl loops to be drawn over them by rib needles, i. e. needles working in the cylinder I3, and another cam ill to raise the bits or sinkers to a normal run position with their butts supported on a ledge I I5. A purl loop 2 in the course of being drawn over a knockingover bit or sinker I09 is shown in Figure 6. Now the machine shown in Figure l is not furnished with a verge in association with the rib or top cylinder I3, but for the purpose of holding down the fabric at such times as loops are being drawn by rib needles each of the bits or sinkers I09 is formed at the lower end with an inwardly directed radial extension 6. These extensions are disposed at right angles to the bits or sinkers and are of a length just suflicient for the intended purpose. The elements I99 may therefore be regarded as combined knocking-over and holding down bits or sinkers. Instead of a series of individually movable bits, however, a movably arranged and suitably arranged trick ring may be employed for the same purposes.

It will be understood that a links and links knitting machine is adapted to produce purl stitch effects and ordinary or/and fancy ribbed fabric as the result of appropriate control and operation of the needles, and accordingly in a circular knitting machine of this type there may be provided as an alternative or in addition to individually movable bits or a movable trick ring,

If desired, the machine may include means for effecting shogging movement of the needle a verge of any appropriate form to facilitate the knitting of-ribbed fabric and especially broad ribbed fabric. This verge may be constituted by a complete fixed trick ring or a series of indi vidual elements appropriately carried.

Any convenient means may be employed in the machine for producing a welt, as for example in a circular machine as described in the said United Kingdom specification No. 391,212. Thus, referring to Figure 2, there is provided in the bottom cam box at one feed an automatically controlled welt cam III which when withdrawn opens the entrance to a welt track III for admission of the knitting butts I! of bottom sliders it, while in the top cam box at the other feed represented there is provided a similar welt cam 'l i! for controlling the admission at appropriate times of the knitting butts of top sliders I5 to a welt track I20. The cams Ill and II! may be controlled so that knitting may proceed on rib and plain needles alternately for a number of courses to form a French welt, or knitting may be suspended on either set of needles to form an English or roll welt.

Since, as already alluded to herein, it may be desired to form separating or parting courses, e. g. on plain needles, or to supply a draw thread any conventional means suitably controlled and operated may be adopted in the improved machine for this purpose. a I 7 Provision may also be made in the machine for varying the quality of the fabric, e. g. for knitting areas with purl and embroidery effects slacker than rib courses, and in the machine shown in the drawings such means may be of the form disclosed in the said United Kingdom specification No. 391,212. That is to say, the stitch cams 59 and 6f may be adjustable to effect the varitions required.

As will be understood, the needles of the machine and the thread lapping or wrapping mechanism may be so controlled as to enable the purl stitch effects and embroidery effects to be restricted to a particular area or areas, and an area or areas of plain stitch fabric or any conventional stitch variation, such as tuck effects, miss-stitch eflects, mock rib effects, or combination of stitch variations, as well understood in the art, or/and ordinary or fancy ribbed effects with or without welts and separating or parting courses or the introduction of draw threads to be produced in desired longitudinal sequence.

Patterning means of any appropriate form other than those hereinbefore described and of which there are now many known in the art, may be employed for producing the purl stitch and embroidery stitch effects and, if desired, similar patterning means may be provided for producing the other patterning eifects mentioned.

Although lap or wrap striping or embroidery mechanism of aparticular form has been described herein, the invention is not limited in this respect since there may be provided such mechanism of any appropriate character adapted to suit the requirements of the machine to which .beds one in relation to the other so as to enable racked rib and like eifects'to be produced.

For the production of the improved fabric in the form of a stocking, half-hose, child's or ankle stock or like article, such article may be made with a split foot and accordingly, in a circular seamless hose machine adapted to produce said articles, .means may be provided for feeding separate yams to the instep needles and the heel and toe needles respectively, and for causing certain needles of both groups to knit both yarns to join the two sections of fabric together.

What we claim then is:

1. A method of making patterned knitted fabric on a knitting machine of the type adapted it is to be applied, for the purpose of supplying to produce purl stitches in knitted fabric, which consists of supplying a main yarn to the needles of the machine, causing desired needles to produce purl stitches, supplying lap striping yarn to desired needles and causing said needles to knit the last mentioned yarn.

2. A method of making knitted fabric on a knitting machine of the type adapted to produce purl stitches in knitted fabric, which consists of supplying a main yarn to the needles of the machine, operating the needles to knit rib courses, causing desired needles to produce purl stitches, supplying lap striping yarn to desired needles and causing said needles to knit the last mentioned yarn.

3. A method of making knitted fabric on a knitting machine of the type adapted to produce purl stitches in knitted fabric, which consists of supplying a main yarn to the needles of the ma chine, operating the needles to knit rib courses, operating said needles suchwise as to form a welt, causing desired needles to produce purl stitches, supplying lap striping yarn to desired needles and causing said needles to knit the last mentioned yarn.

4. A method of making knitted fabric on a knitting machine of the type adapted to produce purl stitches in knitted fabric, which consists of supplying a main yarn to the needles of the machine, operating the needles to knit rib courses, operating said needles suchwise as to form welts, causing desired needles to produce purl stitches,- supplying lap striping yarn to desired needles, causing said needles to knit the last mentioned yarn and operating certain needles to produce separating courses.

5. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, two needle beds, double-ended needles in said beds, instrumentalities for actuating said needles, means for supplying a main yarn to the needles, means adapted for action upon said needle-actuating instrumentalities so as to effect transference of predetermined needles from one bed to the other, a plurality of individually operable lap thread guides, means for supplying embroidery threads to said guides, means for causing desired threads to be lapped around corresponding needles whereby when said needles are caused to knit, embroidery stitches are produced thereby, in addition to stitches formed of the aforesaid main yarn, a series of movable knocking-over bits in association with the needles to facilitate production of purl stitches, and means for so controlling said bits that they are moved clear of the lap thread guides when the latter are to function in the production of embroidery stitches.

6. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, two needle beds, double-ended needles in said beds, instrumentalities -for actuating said needles, means forsupplying a main yarn to the needles, means adapted for action upon said needle-actuating instrumentalities so as to effect transference oi! predetermined needles from one bed to the other, a plurality of individually .operable lap thread guides, means for supplying embroidery threads to said guides, means for causing desired threads to be lapped around corresponding needles whereby when said needles are caused to knit, embroidery stitches areproduced thereby, in addition to stitches formed the aforesaid main yarn, a series of movable knocking-over bits in association with the needles to facilitate production of purl stitches, each of said bits being provided with a formation adapted to assist in holding down the fabric at such times as purl loops are being drawn by appropriate needles, and means for controlling said bits so that they are moved clear of the lap thread guides when the latter are to function in the production of embroidery stitches.

'7. A circular knitting machine comprising, in

combination, a plain cylinder with needle grooves therein, .a superimposed rib cylinder, doubleended needles in said cylinders, a series of needleactuating instrumentalities in said plain cylinder, a corresponding series of similar instrumentalities in the rib cylinder, selective needle transfer mechanism for initiating transference of preselected needles, from the plain cylinder to. the rib cylinder, said mechanism comprising actuating means for effecting endwise movement of needles, selecting elements, one for each needle,

adapted to be pivotally mounted in the aforesaid needle grooves and having selecting butts in difl'erent'positions lengthwise thereon, selecting cam means adapted to operate upon said butts, a pattern device for controlling said selecting cam means so that the latter operate selectively upon the selecting butts for the purpose of determining which of the needles shall be sub sequently moved endwise by the actuating means,

each of said selecting elements being adapted at 45 a region remote from its upper end to have operative relationship with the companion needle-actuating instrumentality in the plain cylinder, whereby when such elements are acted upon by the selecting cam means and make contact with the actuating means, endwise movement of the corresponding needles is effected, and lap striping mechanism including means for supplying embroidery threads to needles, said mechanism being associated with the rib cylinder for co-operation with needles in'the plain cylinder and comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements which are contrastingly .formed and each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical bed in which the-thread guides are mounted for rocking movement, a further series of selecting cams whereby thread guides are selected and moved radially in one direction for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent ends of corresponding needles whereby the threads arelapped around desired needles, means for automatically selecting said last mentioned cams for action upon the thread guides according to pattern requirements, and cam means for moving selected guides radially in the opposite direction. a

8. A knitting machine comprising, in combination, two needle beds, needles in said beds,

. means for supplying a main yarn to said needles,

means adapted to effect transference of predetermined needles from one bed to the other suchwise as to enable purl stitches tobe formed of 

